Proof press



F. BARNEY PROOF PRESS April 13, 1954 Filed July 26. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet1 NWN-rou. 721mm BARN mkv AT-ronuevs F. BARNEY PROOF PRESS April 13,1954 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Fld July 26. 1948 FREEMAN BARNBY B Q'e/ MM A1'omNeYs April 13, 1954 F, BARNEY 2,674,943

PROOF PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26. 1948 Yserl.

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. ATTMEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1.954

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PROOF PRESS Application July Z6, 1948, SerialNo. 40,651

(Cl. lOl-269) 3 Claims. l This invention is directed to a novel andbetter proof press, which is used in the art of printing for printingproof sheets which, after a sheet has been printed, may be examined andany neces- `sary corrections made in the type form before the form istransferred to the regular printing press for reproduction inlargenumbers. Such proof presses are used to print on a sheet of paper,and are manually operated to move a cylinder around which the paper iscarried relative to the type form and imprint upon the paper the typeand other characters which are fixed in a form on the bed of the press.

The present invention has among its objects and purposes the provisionof novel structure for attaining the best operating condition of themechanism to grip the paper at one end edge and secure it at such endedge to the rotatable cylinder while the cylinder is stationary, andfurthermore automatically gripping said .end edge of the paper byrotation of the handle by which the cylinder is manually turned in onedirection, such grip of the paper being released at any position of thecylinder with reference to the other parts of the machine by a reverseturning movement of the handle. It is a further object and purpose toprovide a machine of the type described wherein the cylinder is neverdisturbed with reference to any impression position which it may occupy.The gears on the cylinder f and racks with which said gears engage arealways in full mesh and there is no relative upward or downward movementof said cylinder gears with respect to the racks with which they engage,but instead the carriage carrying the cylinder and the racks with whichthe cylinder engages may be moved upwardly a short distance withreference to the printing form below the cylinder or lowered to printingposition, thereby obtaining a greater accuracy in printing and insuringthat the cylinder will not be disturbed `or changed from impressionposition when it is again lowered after being raised. Novel structurefor attaining these objects and purposes, and

many others which will appear, may be understood from the vfollowingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a proof press con- V structed inaccordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section transverselyA of the cylinder and the gripmechanism associated therewith, substantially on the plane of line 2-2of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, somewhat enlarged 2 vertical section,substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating a detailoi the mechanism,

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary enlarged elevations, illustrating themechanism used for elevating and lowering the cylinder and its carriageand the tracks on which the carriage moves, Fig. 4 showing the positionwhen lifted and Fig. 5 when lowered to printing position,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section transversely oi the printing cylinder,substantially on the plane of line 6 6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the vertical retainingand guiding means at the ends of the carriage tracks,

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged transverse sections, substantially on theplanes of lines 8-3 and 9--9 of Fig. l0, and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one of the cylinder carriage tracks ofthe machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diierent gures ofthe drawings, and the sectional views are taken looking in thedirections indicated by the arrows.

In the construction of the proof press as disH closed, a frame isprovided, having four vertical corner posts l at the corners of theframe. vit the sides of the frame midway between the corner posts areintermediate vertical posts 2. Horizontal longitudinal bars 3 spacedfrom each other connect the posts, and the posts at opposite sides ofthe frame may also be connectedY by cross members if desired. At theupper ends of the posts are beams 4 extending horizontally from one sideto the other of the machine and between the beams a horizontal type bed5 extends lengthwise of the machine, strengthened and reinforced at itssides by side rails E (Fig. 2) The bed, beams and frame are xed againstmovement. On the upper side of the bed 5 the form, including the typeand other imprinting characters, is located, as indicated at "i, in Fig.2.

At opposite sides of theside rails E of the bed 5 two elongatedhorizontal track members t are located. They are connected with the siderails vi5 of the bed (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) so as to be held fromlongitudinal movement with respect thereto, but with connections whichpermita limited vertical movement of the tracks 8. At the outer sides ofthe side rails 6 rectangular,

vsomewhat elongated recesses 9 (Fig. 8) are proconnected to the rails 8by screws I I. Also screws I2 pass through the tracks 8 and thread intothe rails E of the bed, the heads of the screws being in recesses i3 outin the outer sides of said track members 8, and the passages through thetracks 8 for the shanks of the screws I2 are short Verticalslots I4.Therefore, the rails Smay have a limited vertical movement from aY lowerto an upper position, and vice versa. At each end of the bed and at eachside thereof a vertical plate I5 is secured which overlaps the adjacentend of the track Il. This provides vertical guides for the ends of thetracks 8 in any upward or downward.

movement thereof and holds them against longitudinal movement withrespect to the typecar-rying bed.

At the outer side of each of the corner posts I and at their upper endsand extending. thereabove, a cylinder I6 with a closed bottom issecured, which houses a strong coiled compression spring i1. Theupperends of the springs Il bear against the under edges of the tracks3' and serve to lift the weight thereof and of the cylinder and itscarriage which are mounted to traverse the tracks. One of these springsIl is locatedv near each end of each of the track bars 8; A bracket Il)Vis securedL to and extends downwardly from each track 8 adjacent each ofthe spring'carrying cylinders I6. Shafts I9, one at each end ofl themachine, lextend between the end brackets It carried by the track bars 8and are mounted for rocking movement therein. On each of the shafts neareach end thereof an eccentric is secured or formed integral with theshaft which is located directly underneath a horizontal hearing surface2 I made at the upper side of a recess in the lower portion of theassociated beam 4. A rocking of the shaft IQ to the position shown inFig. 4 from that shownA in Fig. 5, changes the position of the tracks 8which are vertically moved limited distances upward or downward byrocking the shafts I9, dependent upon the direction of rocking movementgiven to the shafts. When the cams are in the position of Fig. 4 withtheir full portions against the surfaces 2i the tracks 8 are pulleddownward against the action of the springs I'l and the carriage andcylinder are pulled downward so that by action of the rollers 32 thepaper is pressed'rmly against the type on the bed. When the cams aremovedto the position of Fig. 5 they release the tracks so that they,together with the carriage and cylinder, are lifted by the springs Ilraising the cylinder to release the paper for removal'.

From the shafts I9 arms 22" extend radially, to the outer end of each ofwhich a vertical' has: 23 is pivotally connected at its upper end andextends downwardly nearly to the floor (Fig. l) Saidbars 23, oneadjacent each end of the machine, are pivotally connected at their lowerends to levers or arms 24 mounted on transverse shafts 25 carried injournals at the inner sides of and near the lowerv ends of the posts I.Generally horizontal links 26 are pivotally connected at one-endto theother arms on shafts 25 and extends towardv eachl other to substantiallythe middle of the machine, wheretheyl are connected at their inner endstothe opposite ends of a bar 27 which is secured to a horizontal rockshaft 28, extending between posts 2, to which the bar 21 issecuredmidway between its ends. rEhe shaft 28vat an outer end thereof isprovided with a foot lever 29, said lever. having connection at itsmiddle to the shaft 28 and extending inv opposite directionsv therefrom.Engaging the. ele'- vated end of the foot lever with the foot rocks theshafts I9 simultaneously in one direction, and then by depressing theother end of the lever 28 which has been elevated, the rocking of theshafts I9 simultaneously in opposite directions occurs, so that thelongitudinal tracks 8 are simultaneously and equallyv raised orlow-ered.

At theouter upper corners'ofthe track members 8, lengthwise thereof, agroove is cut in which a rack 30 is located and secured, leaving innerupwardly projecting track sections or ribs tai which extend the lengthof the track members. A carriage is mounted to move back andforthonzthe. track members 8 having two spaced vertical sides3l, one atthe outer side of each of the tracks 8', and with under rollers 32spaced fromeach other on shafts 33 extending between the carriage sides3l, the rollers 32 bearing against the under longitudinal edges of thetracks S. Upper rollers 34 ride upon the projecting ribsvit of thetracks 8 and: shafts, upon which the rollers; 34 are mounted, may extendbetween the'sidesf'l of the carriage; Thus the carriage andy theycylinder hereafter to' be described; mounted thereon, may be moved backand forth over the-tracks, as is evident.v

A hollow" cylinder 35T havingy vertical ends- 3S and: with a segment,ofl the. cylinder wallremoved at one side, slightly less than irrextent;` as indicated atY 3l', has a geari 3% secured: at the outer sideoffeachrof` the ends 36;. The t'wor gears 38' mesh with' the racks* 3B'.sleeve' 39 extends axially of the cylinder and to which the: cylinderends are' attached. and is mounted'. irr bearings at' its endsintheverticalfsides 31 of'. the carriage. A rod 40extendsthrough-the'length` of thesleeve and beyondl one end: ofi it, beyondone-sideroi'". the carriage. A* crank handle 4Iz is secured to theprojecting end; of' the rod: At the endl of.' the sleeve adjacent thecrank (Figa 3) recesses 42, diametrically opposedY to eachr other; are:cut or otherwise produced;V A- pin 43- extends through the rod lllliandlbeyond: itat opposed sides, the endsy ofthe pins being located in therecesses 42. Thus on2 turning the'l rod 40 by means of the crank' 4I ina counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 3) beforethesleeve? 3%` and thecylindersecured thereto start to turn, the projecting endportions of thepins 3l must traversethe slots 42% On reversal of turning movement of.the rod 4I!` the end portions of. the? pin` 43 again traverse the slots42 in the reverse direction before the cylinder will turn to accompanythe turning of' said rod'.

A tympan 44-isr-secured-at one end to aY bar 45 extending` lengthwise ofthe cylinder 35 adjacent one side of the opening 3lv and covers theouter surface of the cylinder tothe opposite side of the opening. A bar46 is.- locatedA lengthwise of the cylinder atsaid opposite endof theopening, theother end.- of the tympan being` gripped between. said barandv thel adjacent edgev of. the cylinder wall at said opening 31..Radial. arms 4'1 integrally connected. withthebar 46. extend to thesleeve39 and. are-provided. with` bearings 48 at their. inner endswhichv surroundthe sleeve. Thumb screws 4S passing. through. the arms4.1 thread into an inward projection 35a on the cylinder for. pressingbar. 4.6y against the endof the tympanV andpressing the tympan againstthe adjacent.r edgeof. the cylinder. at the opening 31 thereof.

A second bar para-Heling the bar 455 andlocated adjacent the elongatedsleeve 39, is integral-withthearms 4.1.. In aplurality-ot alignedradially disposed openings through the parallel bars 46 and 56, pins 5iare passed, each at its outer end having a at head 52, the diameterofwhich is equal to or slightly greater than the width of the bar 4G.Each'of the pins has a coiled compression spring 53 around it, one endAbearing against the inner side of bar 416 and the other against awasher 54 located between the bars 46 and Eil, one around each of thepins 5l which are held in position thereonV by suitable means asbycotter pins. Such springs under compression tend `to Aforce the pinsinwardly and bring the inner sides of the heads 52 of the pins 5lagainst the outer side of bar @5, or against an edge of a proof sheet ofpaper inserted between them.

'Ihe sleeve 3Q at the inner end of each'of-the pins 5| is recessed forsubstantially half of its circumference and in each recess a cam 55 islocated and permanently secured to the rod 40. Thus when the rod isturned and before pin 43 engages with the sleeve 39 to turn it and thecylinder connected therewith, the cam members 5B move with the rod. Inone direction of turning rod 39 the inner ends of the pins 5 i, ridingupon the cam surfaces, force said pins outwardly to the position shownin Fig. 6. But on reverse turning movement of the rod di, the cammembers 56, moving clockwise With the rod, Will move away from the innerends of the pins 5 l, which pins follow the retreating cam surfacesunder pressure of the springs 53, and move the heads 52 inwardly toclamping or gripping position.

The proof sheet which is to be printed is laid upon the inclined table5l at the upper outer portion of the carriage and its inner edge broughtbetween the bar 46 and the gripping heads 52, with said heads in outerposition as in Fig. 6. The cylinder remains stationary and does not moveduring the rst movement of the crank 4 I. Such first movement of thecrank 4|, turning the rod 4i) until the ends of pins 43 have traversedthe slots 42, at the same time releases the pins 5l so that the grippingheads 52 engage against and grip the end edge of the paper against bar4B before the cylinder starts to turn. With the carriage and tracks inlower position, the rotation of the cylinder and the accompanyingturning of the gears 38 causes the carriage to move along the trackswith a simultaneous turning of the cylinder and a succeeding pressing ofthe paper proof sheet against the outer side of the printing form lwhich remains stationary on the bed 5. The gripping heads 52, in therotation of the cylinder in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6), miss the endof the form l which contacts the paper a short distance back of thegripping heads.

Foot operation of the lever 23 moves the cams so that the springs il maylift the cylinder above the form 'l at any time that it may be wanted.There is no disengagement or partial disengagement of the gears 38 andthe racks 3B at any time during operation of the press. The inking andinking roller equipment 5B is likewise lifted above the upper surface ofthe type form. On the return of the carriage to its initial position,the rst movement in initiation of such return is to turn the rod 4G in areverse direction, thereby releasing the gripping heads 52 before thecarriage starts to move back or the cylinder starts its rotation in theopposite direction. When the carriage has been moved back and is stoppedat its initial position, the cylinder occupies the identical positionwhich it had at the beginning of the proof sheet printing operation, andis ready to grip the end edge of a succeeding paper sheet to be printedand perform the same cycle of operationswith respect thereto. Y

With the structure described, the gripping an the release of the paperis done while the cylinder is stationary. This isa very desirable resultof my invention. :Suchv release of the gripping of the paper isaccomplished at any position of the carriage by merely reversing theturning of the crank handle 4l.` The cylinder does not change posi-'-tion in the slightest from any impression position in which it may belocated in the operation of the mechanism, as the gears 3S and the racks30 are always in full mesh. The elevation of the cylinder after 'a proofsheet has been printed is done before the return of the carriage toinitial position. The printed proof sheet is released from the gripping'heads 52, so that on return of the carriage and cylinder to the initialposition, the printed sheet is left over the form and beyond thecarriage and may be readily removed.

The proof press described has been produced and is in use and isexceptionally satisfactory in operation.

The invention is dened in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming Within their scope.

I cla-im:

l. In a structure as described, an elongated horizontal type bed,longitudinal track bars one at each side thereof, a carriage includingtwo spaced apart sides, one adjacent each of said track bars, means formounting the carriage on the bars for movement of the carriage back andforth thereon, a horizontal cylinder extending between the sides of thecarriage, bearing connections between said cylinder and track bars formoving the carriage and the cylinder therewith in one direction on saidtrack bars when said cylinder is turned in one direction and in theopposite direction when the cylinder is reversed in turning movement,said cylinder being hollow and at one side having an opening extendingthe length thereof, an elongated sleeve extending axially of thecylinder to which the cylinder is connected, said sleeve being rotatablymounted on the carriage sides, a rod extendingv through the sleeve, acrank secured to one end of the rod, said sleeve at an end thereofhaving diametrically opposed recesses therein, a pin extending throughthe rod the end portions thereof being received in said recesses, saidrecesses in length being .greater than the diameter of said pin, sheetgripper means mounted on said cylinder, means for moving said grippermeans outwardly on turning the rod in one direction and for releasingsaid gripping means to move inwardly on turning said rod in the oppositedirection, and spring means moving said gripping means inwardly whenreleased.

2. In a proof press, a carriage adapted to be mounted for moving backand forth over a type bed, said carriage having spaced apart sides, ahollow cylinder having a segment longitudinally thereof open, anelongated sleeve extending through the cylinder and on which thecylinder is xed, said sleeve at its ends being rotatably mounted on saidsides of the carriage, a bar secured to the cylinder at one side of theopen segment thereof, said bar extending lengthwise of said cylinder, asecond bar connected therewith located parallel thereto and to saidsleeve, a rod extending through the sleeve, a crank handle secured toone end of the rod, pins passing through said bars having gripping headsat their outer ends', said pins at their inner ends being: directedtowardsaida sleeve and rod, springJ means one on each pin, tending tomove the pins radially in- Ward, said sleeve at the-inner end of. eachpin having a. recessed portion therein extending. to said rod:y a camconnected tosa'drod and located in each recess, the inner ends of saidpinsbearing against said` cams, and inter-engaging means be- .tween therodand sleevevfor connecting thev rod with the sleeve` to: turn saidsleeve upon turning theA roda limited amount, said rod when turned ineither direction first turning said limited amount before connectingwith said sleeve to turn it and its attached cylinder, whereby onturning the rodin one direction. said pins are released for automaticinward movement to-bring the gripping vheads thereof against the face ofthe outer bar before rotation of the cylinder begins, and on reversal'of movement of the rod, said pins are forced outwardly away fromoperative gripping su position before reversey turning movement ofthecylinder begins.

3. A structure as dened in claim 2, said interengaging means between therod and cylinder comprising, a.- pin extending transversely through thevrod and having end portions extending beyond the sides of the rod, saidsleeve having recesses into which said end portions of the pins extend,the length of said recesses being greater than thevdiameter of the pin.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,168,887 Huson Jan. 18, 1916 1,297,997 Brower et al Mar.25,1919 2,162,186 Lee et al June 20,'1939 2,375,793 Kidrick et al May15, 1945

